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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. saw — the tool
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. wake — a trail
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. ball — a great time
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bear — the animal
  15. current — happening now
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. saw — the tool
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. current — electric
  21. bear — the animal
  22. current — of water
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com